Following the screening, director and producer Serkan Koç will join us live via Zoom for a Q&A session, giving guests an opportunity to hear more about the film and the story behind its creation.

Friday, October 9, 2026

6:30 PM

ATA-DC Documentary Screening

The film is in Turkish.

Cookies, Turkish coffee and tea will be served.

ATA-DC Members: FREE

Non-Members: $10

Come enjoy an evening of film, conversation, and community as we continue celebrating Turkish Heritage Month with ATA-DC.

Registration Here : https://square.link/u/poCDEOKR

The post “Son Sümer Kraliçesi” Documentary Screening first appeared on ATA-DC.

Join us for Nostalgia Night – Türk Sanat Müziği, featuring live music by Group Blue, along with meze and dinner.

Saturday, October 3 | 7:00–10:00 PM

Baku Delicious

3900 Pickett Road, Suite C, Fairfax, VA 22031

ATA-DC Members: $40 | Non-Members: $55

Tickets: https://square.link/u/YU34uW9B

All proceeds from this event will go toward supporting the 24th Annual Turkish Festival on October 18 in Washington, DC.

Come celebrate Turkish Heritage Month with timeless Türk Sanat Müziği, great food, and our community!

The post Turkish Heritage Month Nostalgia Night first appeared on ATA-DC.

We are looking forward to a full month of food, music, film, dance, culture and community.

Save the dates and join us throughout Turkish Heritage Month!

UPCOMING EVENTS: 

• OCTOBER 9 — Movie Night

Son Sümer Kraliçesi by Serkan Koç

Tickets: Members FREE; Non-Members: $10

https://square.link/u/poCDEOKR

• OCTOBER 10 — Ballroom Dancing with Turkish Music

4:30–6:00 PM | ATA-DC House

Featuring Catherine Ayla

ATA-DC Members $30 | Non-Members $35

No partner required

Tickets: https://square.link/u/yVd1sV6l

• OCTOBER 11 — Turkish Dance Workshop | Edalı da Modalı

3:30–5:00 PM | ATA-DC House

With Kardelen Turkish Dance Ensemble

ATA-DC Members $10 | Non-Members $15

All levels welcome

Tickets: https://square.link/u/AQFDBokt

• OCTOBER 18 — 24th Annual Turkish Festival

11:00 AM–6:30 PM | FREE Admission

300 Pennsylvania Ave NW (between 3rd & 6th Streets), Washington, DC

Eat, Dance, Celebrate Turkish Style!

Festival information: https://www.turkishfestival.org

• NOVEMBER 1 — ATA-DC Turkish Republic Day Ball

5:00 PM | Washington Plaza Hotel, Washington, DC

Featuring Paul & Eren Joseph Dwyer and Özgür Akkuş

Tickets: https://square.link/u/JgQSFX18

• NOVEMBER 15 — Turkish Heritage Night at the NBA celebrating Alperen Şengün

7:00 pm | Capital One Arena, Washington DC 

Special ticket offer includes:

-Limited-edition Turkish Heritage soccer jersey (youth & adult sizes, while supplies last)

-Early entry to watch player warmups

-Opportunity for 25 children to form a fan tunnel welcoming the players

Tickets: 

https://www.gofevo.com/event/2627wizturkishhsn

PAST EVENTS:

SEPTEMBER 27 —  Beth’s Turkish Brunch | Turkish Heritage Month Kickoff

11:00 AM–2:00 PM | Beth’s, Bethesda

• OCTOBER 3 — Nostalgia Night | Türk Sanat Müziği

7:00–10:00 PM | Baku Delicious

Live music by Group Blue | Meze & Dinner

Celebrate Turkish Heritage Month with ATA-DC and our community throughout Washington, DC and the DMV. We look forward to celebrating with you! For questions email: info@atadc.org

The post Turkish Heritage Month is Here! first appeared on ATA-DC.

We’ll be doing Edalı da Modalı at the Turkish Festival this year, so this is the perfect chance to learn it ahead of time and know exactly what’s happening when the music starts.

Sunday, October 11, 2026

3:30 PM–5:00 PM

ATA-DC House

7115 Leesburg Pike, Suite 302

Falls Church, VA

Tickets

ATA-DC Members: $10

Non-Members: $15

Space is limited, so reserve your spot early.

Tickets: [TICKET LINK]

All proceeds from the workshop will go toward supporting the 24th Annual Turkish Festival on Sunday, October 18.

Learn the steps on October 11, then come see Edalı da Modalı come to life at the Turkish Festival.

The post Turkish Dance Workshop first appeared on ATA-DC.

As part of the Turkish Heritage Month for the first time we are introducing ballroom dancing with Turkish music. Learn the elegance of the Waltz and passion of the Tango to beautiful Turkish music. All levels are welcome!

Saturday, October 10

4:30–6:00 PM

ATADC House

7115 Leesburg Pike, Suite 302, Falls Church, VA

Waltz • Tango • Turkish Music

Featuring Catherine Ayla, a professional ballroom and Latin dance instructor with over 20 years of teaching experience in the Washington, D.C. area. Trained at Arthur Murray Dance Studio in Silver Spring, teaching independently since 2010, and a member of the National Dance Council of America, Catherine is a performing and competitive Latin dancer who loves teaching all levels.

Price: Members $30 • Non-members $35

Space is limited—reserve your spot soon!

No experience necessary—just bring your dancing spirit!

Our Instructor: Catherine Ayla www.CatherineAylaDance.com 

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/catherineayla/

Tickets : https://square.link/u/yVd1sV6l

For questions:  info@atadc.org

The post Ballroom Dancing with Turkish Music first appeared on ATA-DC.

Join us for a special Turkish Brunch filled with traditional flavors, good company, and community — all while supporting a great cause.

Sunday, September 27, 2026

11:00 AM – 2:00 PM

Beth’s 4948 Fairmont Ave, Bethesda, MD 20814

Tickets:

ATA-DC Members: $35

Non-Members: $40

Children Under 12: $15

Breakfast Buffet Includes: Black & green olives • Fresh mozzarella, feta & kashar cheeses • Sucuk • Tomatoes • Cucumbers • Simit • Poğaça • Börek • Bread • Menemen • Tea • Coffee • Water • Dessert

Food prepared by Chef Aynur Cooks

Tickets : https://square.link/u/tXK0Eox6

All proceeds from this event will benefit the 24th Annual Turkish Festival in Washington, DC!

The post Sunday Brunch at Beth’s first appeared on ATA-DC.

Türkiye vs Paraguay

FIFA World Cup 2026 Group D Round 2

Friday, June 19, 2026

Doors Open: 10:30 PM

Game Time: 11:00 PM EST

ATA-DC House

7115 Leesburg Pike, Suite 302

Falls Church, VA 22043

$5 Entry Fee

Lentil soup, pide, and drinks will be served.

Bring your red and white spirit and enjoy the match with fellow fans as we support Türkiye on the world stage.

Register: rsvp@atadc.org

Space is limited.

The post Türkiye vs Paraguay World Cup Game 2 Watch Party first appeared on ATA-DC.

More than an exhibition, YADIGÂR (Memento) has become a respected traveling cultural platform preserving family heirlooms, women’s craftsmanship, and the historical journey of Anatolian textiles. By transforming private memories into a shared public legacy, the project strengthens Turkish-American cultural ties and ensures this heritage is carried into future generations.

ATANews magazine’s Feriha Istar, who worked alongside curators Atahan and Hürmeydan to bring the Washington, DC leg of the project to life, sat down with them to discuss the vision, journey, and cultural resonance of YADIGÂR.

How did you evolve Dr. Vega Sankur’s vision into a multi-sensory, traveling exhibition?

As curators, we built upon Dr. Sankur’s vision by transforming dowry culture into an immersive cultural journey. We used our treasured heirlooms as a base and then combined storytelling, sensory design, live demonstrations, and adaptable exhibition formats so YADIGÂR could travel while maintaining its emotional depth and authenticity.

The exhibition centers on Anatolia’s dowry tradition. How do you reinterpret something so intimate and domestic into a collective cultural narrative without losing its personal depth?

We approached each piece as a personal story rather than an object. By honoring the makers, their memories, and their craftsmanship, we created a space where visitors connect individual experiences to universal themes of family, identity, and belonging.

Many of the pieces come from women who migrated from Anatolia to the U.S. How do these objects change in meaning when they move across geography from private homes to exhibition spaces in America?

These objects become bridges between cultures. In private homes, they preserved family memories; in exhibition spaces they gain a wider voice, representing migration and the continuity of heritage across borders.

YADIGÂR is described as a tribute to women’s labor and cultural transmission. What conversations do you hope this exhibition sparks around invisible labor, memory, and intergenerational knowledge?

We hope audiences recognize the unseen labor, patience, and creativity behind handmade traditions. We also want to inspire conversations about how women preserve culture and pass knowledge from one generation to the next.

Unlike traditional exhibitions, YADIGÂR incorporates textures, sounds, fragrances, and even taste. How did you design this multi-sensory approach, and what does it allow audiences to understand that visual display alone cannot?

We wanted visitors to feel the heritage, not only observe it. Textures, sounds, scents, and taste create emotional memories and offer a deeper understanding of how these traditions were lived in everyday life.

The Washington, DC leg of this project brought together organizations like ATA-DC, Anatolian Artisans, the GW Textile Museum, and ATAMLA-AKM. How have these collaborations shaped the exhibition’s impact and expanded its reach to broader audiences?

Collaboration has been essential. We worked extremely well with all the DC organizations; all contributed volunteers, ideas, heirlooms, models, and the Kardelen dance routine, enriching AKM YADIGÂR in DC. Working with respected organizations also expanded visibility, created academic and cultural dialogue, and introduced YADIGÂR to new communities that may not otherwise encounter Anatolian heritage.

The recent fashion show at the Turkish Embassy in DC highlighted garments passed down through generations. How does incorporating performance and fashion deepen the idea of “living heritage” within YADIGÂR?

Performance definitely brings heritage into motion. When garments are worn again, they move beyond display and become living expressions of identity, elegance, tradition, and continuity between past and present. We’d like to thank the Turkish Embassy for their patronage in DC. We are especially grateful to Ambassador Honorable Sedat Onal and Mrs. Figen Onal for opening their home and organizing this event. We also appreciate all the volunteers organized by ATA-DC. It was a great collaboration experience for everyone.

The post YADIGÂR (Memento): Weaving Heritage Across Generations first appeared on ATA-DC.

Featuring Paul & Eren Joseph Dwyer

Paul Dwyer and his son Eren Joseph Dwyer have become known for their heartfelt interpretations of beloved Turkish songs and folk music. Together, they have performed and recorded works including Çanakkale Türküsü, İzmir Marşı and Hey Onbeşli, bringing a distinctive sound to music that holds a special place in Turkish culture.

With a special performance by Özgür Akkuş

Turkish vocalist and songwriter Özgür Akkuş brings more than two decades of experience to the stage. Classically trained in opera and voice, he has released multiple albums and singles and has contributed his vocals to film soundtracks and performances alongside well-known Turkish artists.

Join us for an elegant evening of music, celebration and community as we come together to honor the 103rd anniversary of the Republic of Türkiye.

Sunday, November 1, 2026

Washington Plaza Hotel | Washington, DC

Tickets: https://square.link/u/JgQSFX18

Save the date — we look forward to celebrating Cumhuriyet Bayramı together!

https://www.instagram.com/p/DdzFGBQNKrf/?stkn=MnAzaG43emptenV4

The post Annual Republic Day Ball 2026 first appeared on ATA-DC.

BY SEVTAP SCHREFFLER

On March 8, ATA-DC hosted its signature International Women’s Day celebration, honoring Turkish women leaders in STEM while supporting educational initiatives. Esteemed speakers Dr. Esma Akın (GWU Medical School), Dr. Hande Özdinler (Northwestern University), and Dr. Duygu TosunTurgut (UCSF) were recognized with ATA-DC’s Annual Leadership Award for their groundbreaking work and leadership.

Continuing its commitment to education and professional dialogue, ATA-DC hosted a webinar on March 16 titled “Immigration and Trade in the U.S. – Immigration Policy and Its Long-Term Impacts.” Led by attorneys Tolga Özek and Mert Arkan, the webinar explored U.S. immigration policy, long-term economic impacts, international trade, customs tariffs, trade agreements, and compliance, providing valuable insights for the community.

As summer approached, community spirit took center stage. On June 7, members traveled together to Connecticut for the Turkey–USA Match Day Bus Trip, sharing excitement, pride, and camaraderie. This was followed by the beloved Father’s Day Picnic on June 15 at Quincy Park, where nearly one hundred community members of all ages gathered to celebrate family, enjoy Turkish cuisine, and strengthen community bonds under the summer sky.

Preparing for the Festival: Fundraising and Togetherness.

Behind every successful Turkish Festival lies months of preparation and heartfelt community support. On June 1, festival fundraising began with the Back to the ’80s Nostalgia Fundraiser, graciously hosted by Özlem and Hüseyin Akkaya. This colorful, music-filled evening brought the community together for dancing, laughter, and shared memories—proving that fundraising can be both impactful and fun.

Another highlight was the lively Street Eats & Beats Fundraiser on September 27, hosted by Aynur and Mustafa Özdemir. Guests enjoyed music by the SeksenRock Band and memorable kokoreç prepared by Chef Aynur, all in support of ATA-DC’s award-winning festival. Despite a bit of rain, spirits stayed high with more than 60 guests gathered under tents and umbrellas, sharing plates, stories, and laughter late into the evening. Events like these fundraisers are a good reminders of why the DC Turkish Festival means so much for our community!

Turkish Heritage Month: A Celebration of Legacy

October marked Turkish Heritage Month (THM), beginning on October 4 with a Kick-Off Brunch combined with ATA-DC’s 60th Anniversary Celebration. Our community came together to mark three special milestones at this event — the kickoff of the 14th Turkish Heritage Month, ATA-DC’s 60th Anniversary, and our 1st Anniversary as a Virginia non-profit at our new place in Falls Church, Va. At its core, this special gathering honored the organization’s long-standing legacy while looking ahead to its future.

Cultural programming continued on October 11 with a Folk Dance Workshop led by renowned instructor Yeliz Dingler. Participants explored regional dances including Romani, Artvin Horon, and Eastern Halay, experiencing the energy and diversity of Turkish folk culture.

The following day, on October 12, guests gathered for a Turkish Coffee & Fortune Reading Workshop, where the history, rituals, and social traditions of Turkish coffee were shared in an engaging and intimate setting.

A Festival That Brings a City Together

The pinnacle of the year arrived on October 19, when Pennsylvania Avenue once again transformed into a vibrant celebration of Turkish culture during the 23rd Annual Turkish Festival. Welcoming over 20,000 visitors, the festival showcased Turkish music, dance, arts, crafts, and cuisine, standing as a proud symbol of cultural exchange and community pride.

Just weeks later, on November 1, the community gathered at the Washington Plaza Hotel to celebrate the 102nd Anniversary of the Republic of Türkiye. The elegant Republic Day Grand Ball brought together distinguished guests and community members for an evening of unity, reflection, and celebration, with live music by Selin Geçit filling the dance floor.

Investing in Youth and Education

Youth education and leadership remained central to ATA-DC’s mission throughout the year, with 45 students enrolled in Atatürk School and 50 students participating in the Young Cultural Ambassadors Program (YCAP). Atatürk School students proudly celebrated national milestones, including the 10 November Atatürk Commemoration Day and 29 October National Republic Day, through poems, songs, and shared remembrance. On November 23, students also honored their teachers, recognizing the legacy of Mustafa Kemal Atatürk as Head Teacher of the National Schools.

YCAP students engaged with community leaders across various fields through a combination of online and in-person sessions. A highlight was the YCAP Civic Engagement Seminar on November 8, held at ATA-DC House, featuring Lydia Borland and Lincoln McCurdy, who shared valuable insights on leadership, civic participation, and Turkish-American relations. The year concluded with a joyful YCAP End-of-Year Potluck on December 14, organized by the students themselves.

 A New Home for Culture

A defining milestone occurred on December 13, when ATA-DC hosted world-renowned flutist Şefika Kutluer for a special concert at ATA-DC House. This memorable evening marked the first cultural music event at ATA-DC’s new permanent address, symbolizing a new era for the organization as a

cultural and community hub. We were honored to welcome our esteemed artist Şefika Kutluer —internationally known as “The Magic Flute”— for an unforgettable performance and cultural evening at the ATA-DC House.

The Heart of ATA-DC: Our Volunteers

Behind every successful event stands an extraordinary group of volunteers. On November 16, ATA-DC honored these dedicated individuals with a Volunteer Appreciation Evening, celebrating the passion, time, and commitment that make every program possible. The event celebrated and thanked all those who contributed to the success of ATA-DC’s events and programs, bringing together volunteers in a warm and friendly atmosphere filled with reconnections and new friendships.

 So Much More is Happening

 While many of the events shared here are the ones our members and friends see and enjoy firsthand, there is also a great deal of meaningful work happening quietly in the background. These ongoing efforts help make our community experience smoother, stronger, and more connected. One of the most beloved examples is ATANews, our quarterly magazine. With every issue, we bring people together through

shared stories, celebrations, and a sense of belonging that extends well beyond our events. At the same time, we have been thoughtfully modernizing our website, making it a more welcoming, fun, and easy-to-use space where our members and friends can stay informed and connected to everything ATA-DC. Though these efforts may not always be visible, they are deeply rooted in our commitment to serve our community with care and heart.

IN 2025, ATA-DC HOUSE BECAME THE CENTER OF THE TURKISH-AMERICAN COMMUNITY WITH ITS COMPELLING EVENTS AND PROGRAMS. THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS WILL CONTINUE TO WORK TIRELESSLY TO SERVE AND UNITE THE COMMUNITY IN 2026.

With Gratitude and Looking Ahead

From our hearts to all sponsors, volunteers, supporters, participants, — thank you for being part of ATADC’s story in 2025 and we’d love to see you with us in 2026 as well.

Your continued support allows us to build bridges, celebrate heritage, and create lasting memories. Looking ahead to 2026, we are excited for another inspiring year. Together, we aim to foster greater connection, inclusivity, and impact in the year ahead. We wish you and your loved ones a prosperous, fulfilling, and healthy and New Year.

The post Reflecting on 2025 & Shaping 2026 first appeared on ATA-DC.